Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-02-19
MY VALENTINE.

Valentines Day, snd I am sitting IN
the Jay window of my front room IN the
little semi detached house which Is now
nv home. The little maid has laid the
breakfast things, but it is early, and J
sit cn the horse hair sofa In the window,
looking out for the postman.
Not that his coming this morning has
any romantic interest for me. Those
DAYS of romance srs past and gone.
I am now arrived at the sober age OF
IS. and it is time to have done with snch
folly. And yet as I sit here, and the
postman delays his coming, my mind
wanders back to other Valentine days
long ago. when it was a matter of such
deep interest to me.
One fourteenth of February in par
ticular remember. ten-let me see, Six
teen years ago it was. How the years
fy! and how short a time it seems!
Those few bright years of woman's life
seem to go " magic, end when they are
gone what remains Always at one time
or other an aching sense that they are
gone, and sometimes, alas, the knowledge
that she is doomed to loneliness for the
wears to come. / felt that at one time
myself. but am used to it now.
At IS these romantic regrets should be
done with. And especially when one
lives the Life of q daily governess as [
have done for some years past J, the
realities of Life press too constantly and
too unpleasantly on ones mind to leave
room for day dreams.
But en- the fourteenth OF February
just referred to my governess' life had
not yet begun. I had then as fair future
before me as most young girls of my
acquaintance, with equal chances of an
advantageous and happy marriage, and
a life of independence. At that time I
was on a visit to some old friends, the
Coventrye.
The family consisted OF father, mother
and two daughters-fine hearty,
good looking girls, tall, strong and high
spirited. In that respect 1ather con
trast to myself, for was small, quiet
hammered, and Gas was painfully con-
scious) rather plain in appearance.
They had plenty of company, for their
father, Squire Coventry as he was call
ed, kept most hospitable house; and,
during the winter, the house
was continually filled with young geo
pie, and amusements of all kinds was
the order Of the day.
Kate and Charley were in every kind
of escapade-companions in mirth, and
companions in misfortune,
when the evil effects of their joking
came home to their own door.
While I was at the Coventrys we at
tended the village church close by,
where the rector being absent, there Off
ciated at the time curate who had late
ly come to the place. He was tall,
slight man, rather good-looking; but he
had painfully stilted, self-conscious
which quite did away with the
effect of his appearance.
I at first attributed it to conceit, after
ward, when knew him better, to shy
ness. He seldom came to the house, al
though the Coventrys quickly made his
and pressed him to do SO,
out invitations of all kinds he refused.
During my satay, however, he gradual
y acquired the habit of walking home
with us from church, our road lying
partly in the same direction; he would
part with us at the park gate, with the
'tiffest of bows, refusing all entreaties to
enter, and proceeded to his lodgings in
the village.
By degrees his visits to the house be-
came more frequent, and of course the
change was attributed to me. I could
not help becoming conscious that during
these Sunday walks his place was gener-
ally at my side; and I suffered much
rom the sly looks and muttered remarks
If which I was the object. Our CONVEX
'ation on these occasions was of the prim-
nest and most demure. Sometimes, after
! silent walk of two or three minutes
eeble request to carry my prayer-book,
md that yielded to, a few remarks on the
and so on, and we were already
It our journeys end; nevertheless that
vas sufficient food for mischief loving
riends to found joke upon.
In most of these amusements 7 took a
part! and though had neither health
lor animal spirits equal to my yong
riends, their kindness and heartiness
made everything pleasant. They had
most especial fondness for practical jok-
ng I mean harmless kind), particu-
arly the younger ore, Kate, who was
Ibly assisted in this line by her cousin
harles Braintree, who constantly form
one ofthe party. i
As to Mr.. Bargill himself, he Yves 'fair
yame." His conscious, conceited, and
ret awkward and bashful manner, made
him, I must confess, most tempting
subject; and while he had quickness
enough to see that in some way or other